Crisis Center Offers Help To Victims Of Domestic Violence

New Lenox does not have a domestic violence shelter of its own, but help is not far away, state Sen. William Mahar (R-Orland Park) told village officials recently.

Mahar, who serves on the board of the Crisis Center for South Suburbia, said the Tinley Park-based agency can provide services for New Lenox residents.

The center, operated by 35 professional staffers and 200 volunteers, provides a number of services, such as emergency shelter, counseling, job training, intervention and training for police and firefighters who are called to domestic violence scenes.

Mahar said the center works with people from "all over the south and southwest suburbs. We turn nobody away. This is not a jurisdictional thing for us."

Mayor Mike Smith said New Lenox police officers should begin domestic violence training, which is provided by experienced police officers, early next year. Area firefighters will be asked to sign up for the training as well, Smith said.

Trustee Gary Mueller, who raised the question of available services for domestic violence victims, said the information Mahar provided is valuable.

The center's 24-hour domestic violence hot line number is 708-429-SAFE (7233).